And making the work of parents easier. Jumpers, reins, swings, playpen, chaise lounge - and this is not a complete list of gadgets. Let's talk about a popular device - baby walkers. There are still ongoing debates about the advisability of using walkers. Does a child need walkers, are they useful for development or are they harmful? Let's try to figure out why walkers are needed.
A baby walker is a device that allows a child who cannot walk yet to move independently around the house. They consist of a chair with fastening belts, a tabletop and a structure on wheels.
A growing child is bored of sitting in a crib or playpen all the time; he wants to explore the surrounding space. Walkers help with this task.
Place your baby in them so that their feet reach the floor. They push the baby off the floor surface and roll in the walker in the direction he needs. Thus, the child receives safe freedom of movement and broadens his horizons.
When buying walkers for children, take the choice of model seriously; the design must be strong and reliable. Give preference to the option with a braking system, it prevents accidental falls. Locking the wheels quickly transforms the walker into a children's table. It is better if the model is equipped with 6-8 pairs of wheels.
The height of the walker must be adjusted, because the child is growing, so height adjustment is necessary. It is necessary to have safety belts to ensure the safety of the baby.
The base should be wider than the tabletop, this increases the stability of the model. Read the instructions, they indicate the maximum values for the child's height and weight. To avoid injury, do not exceed these parameters.
An additional pleasant bonus is a panel with light and sound effects. In addition, an arc with educational bright toys is attached to the panel. By pressing buttons, the child turns on music, lighting or imitation of the voices of birds and animals. These features are for entertainment and educational purposes.
Choose a model with a removable cover. The fabric armchair can be easily unfastened and washed in a washing machine. A seat made of high-quality and durable material can withstand the weight of a child, but not rub his legs.
The doctors never came to a consensus. Some doctors are categorically against the use of this device, while other doctors are not so categorical and allow its use, but only after the baby’s back gets stronger. Children who have health problems (high or low tone) must consult a doctor. Fix the problem first, and only then purchase a walker (if you really need one).
The popular doctor Komarovsky believes that walkers help make life easier for parents, but they should not be abused. The child must develop comprehensively: lie, sit, stand, crawl. Staying in a walker for a long time, according to this doctor, will do more harm than good. But the baby can run around the apartment in a walker for 30-40 minutes. At this time, the mother will free her hands for important matters, and the child will carefully examine the surrounding space.
Doctors agree on the age at which a baby should be placed in a walker. Until your child’s spine becomes stronger, you should refrain from purchasing this “transport.” Let the baby first learn to sit confidently and stand on his own legs in the crib, holding on to the sides.
The age for “walker races” is 8-9 months. However, keep in mind that children develop differently, so consult your pediatrician before purchasing a walker. When placing your baby in a walker, make sure that the legs reach the floor and the foot rests firmly on the surface.
pros
Minuses
Conclusion: Taking into account all the pros and cons of baby walkers and after consulting with a doctor, parents should independently decide whether their child needs such transport. Don’t get scared in advance and over-dramatize the situation. Secure the surrounding area for the young explorer, follow the rules for using walkers and calmly master a new means of transportation.
Comment on the article "Why does a child need a walker"
Walkers for children: benefits and harm. Does a child need a walker? The opinions of specialists, recommendations of doctors and reviews of parents regarding the benefits and harms of walkers for children are divided. When baby walkers can cause harm (contraindications).
Walkers for children: benefits and harm. Recommend a gurney or walker. Pros and cons of baby walkers. Walkers are inexpensive and comfortable. Walkers and gurneys are a good option for children who have already learned to stand on their own, stand confidently and do...
Active walkers.. Toys. A child from birth to one year. Care and education of a child up to one year: nutrition, illness, development. Are they needed? The orthopedist forbade us regular ones. And these? They seem to be completely different in how they are used.
Walkers for children: benefits and harm. And if there are no contraindications, you can buy a walker for your child, although each parent decides for himself when to buy a walker for his child. The optimal age for purchasing this baby accessory is considered to be 6-9 months.
Advantages of baby walkers. One of the main advantages of walkers is the mobility of the child. Walkers for children: benefits and harm. At what age can you put a child in a walker?
Walkers, jumpers.. Cribs, high chairs and other furniture. A child from birth to one year. Caring for and raising a child up to one year old: nutrition, illnesses Now I set out to read information on Inete about the dangers of walkers and jumpers. Well, as always, everyone says different things. Some people really like...
Girls, please tell me if a child needs a walker. Or rather, is there a need for them? The question is not about money, but about the benefits for the child. If necessary, which ones are better to buy - the best ones - but for a small apartment...
A child from birth to one year. Caring for and raising a child up to one year old: nutrition, illnesses My relatives fitted us with a walker to make my life easier. Moreover, they assured us that we need a walker for a child. Jumpers, reins, swings, playpen, chaise lounge - and this is far from...
Walkers for children: benefits and harm. about jumping walkers, part 2. Pros and cons of baby walkers. The orthopedist told us that he considers walkers harmful, but if you want to send him on a “trip” around the apartment, then my advice from personal experience: you can use a walker...
Walkers specifically relax the gluteal muscles, and lead to unwanted tension in the trapezius and pectoral muscles. The website runs thematic conferences, blogs, ratings of kindergartens and schools are maintained, articles are published daily and competitions are held.
Walkers for children: benefits and harm. Recommend a gurney or walker. Pros and cons of baby walkers. Walkers are inexpensive and comfortable. How to choose the right baby walker. Walkers and gurneys are a good option for children who have already learned to get up on their own...
Why does a child need a walker? I sat down two or three times a day for 10 minutes when I started sitting, but was not yet crawling (then Does a child need a walker? Or is this a device for parents? Printable version. Tell me, at what age can a child be put in a walker?
Why does a child need a walker? What is a walker? Baby walkers are a device with the help of which a child who does not yet know how to walk can. Locking the wheels quickly transforms the walker into a children's table.
Why does a child need a walker? I sat down two or three times a day for 10 minutes, when I started sitting, but was not crawling yet (then you won’t be able to sit down, I didn’t want to). It took him longer to get tired, but it’s very nice - you can drink tea, you don’t have to hold him in your arms.
Walkers for children: benefits and harm. Does a child need a walker? Experts' opinions, doctors' recommendations and parents' reviews about the benefits and harms of walkers for children. Do children need walkers? When baby walkers can cause harm (contraindications).
walkers :). Age standards. A child from birth to one year. Care and education of a child up to one year: nutrition, illness, development. It’s obvious from the child that if it’s hard for him, he won’t sit in the walker for long. At first we sat for 15 minutes, then for an hour, and more.
Walkers. Strollers, car seats, kangaroos. A child from birth to one year. Care and education of a child up to one year: nutrition, illness, development. walkers - you can’t guess, one child sleeps and eats in them, and uses them from 6 months to almost a year, but my elders and I bought a separate one, hooked it on...
Why does a child need a walker? Staying in a walker for a long time, according to this doctor, will do more harm than good. Does a child need a walker? Experts' opinions, doctors' recommendations and reviews Wean you off the pacifier - seize the moment!
And in a walker, the child moves very little. In general, my opinion is that walkers are needed for weakened, developmentally delayed children - in this case they can help the child, but there is no point in pushing healthy children there. 03/22/2000 13:23:52, Mila.
Child from 1 to 3. Raising a child from one to three years: hardening and development, nutrition and illness, daily routine and development of household skills. Instead of a walker, you can use a diaper or sheet under your armpits. It is very convenient for mom to walk and useful for the baby: tired...
Until the child is able to move independently in space, mother’s hands remain one of the main ways to move him. Baby walkers come to the aid of many parents at a time when the time is approaching for the baby to stand on his own legs. But are these devices so necessary for a child’s development? Are they so useful and necessary? Let's consider these points in our article.
Many pediatricians, orthopedists and pediatric surgeons categorically do not recommend using walkers. .
American neurophysiologist Glen Doman, in his book for children with disabilities, “The Path to Health,” writes: “You cannot place a baby in a walker—this is dangerous for the child’s development.”
Some doctors are not so categorical. But, nevertheless, it is advised not to be zealous in using them. So, for example, Dr. Komarovsky generally does not recommend planting babies under 9 months. But some children at this age already know how to walk on their own, so for such children these devices remain a completely irrelevant device.
In all other cases, it is recommended to use them in very measured doses and with great caution.
And there are reasons for this...
Arguments against"
1. Walkers do not teach a child to walk. . Inside the structure, the baby is in a “sitting” position. Movement in this device in most cases is carried out by pushing off the floor with the legs, as a result of which the structure begins to move and rolls in a given direction. But physiologically, the process of walking is significantly different from the process of pushing off - different muscles are involved. With regular and prolonged use, the natural processes of physiological development of the child’s musculoskeletal system slow down.
2. Speaking about the development of the musculoskeletal system, it should be noted that the result of constant and prolonged use of walkers can be curvature of the spine, disorders in the development of the lower extremities.
3. Unfortunately, walkers can often pose a danger on their own. . This is especially true for inexpensive, “budget” models - many of them turn over when colliding with obstacles, or tip over when they hit thresholds. And walkers with wide frames can get stuck in narrow passages, which are quite sufficient in average apartments. In addition, not all models are equipped with anti-slip wheels or braking systems. Such models are dangerous because they are capable of developing quite high speeds on slippery surfaces such as parquet, ceramic tiles or laminate. And this is fraught with additional collisions with various obstacles and possible injuries, because at that age children do not yet know how.
4. Constantly moving around the house in this device, the baby does not learn to maintain balance. , does not receive the skills to fall correctly, and is deprived of the opportunity to receive lessons in caution.
5. Among other things, the use of walkers also has a number of medical contraindications. What falls into this category?
Olga Demina, Irisha’s mother: “We inherited the walkers from our cousins. At first we liked everything. My daughter began to move around the apartment without difficulty, and my hands really rested. But then a traumatic incident occurred, and we abandoned this device forever. Irishka accelerated in her walker on the laminate floor and crashed into the chest of drawers. When bottles, tubes and other things fell on top of her, she was very scared, and it took a long time to calm the child down. After that, we decided to put the walkers on the balcony and never take them out again.”
Arguments for"
In the book “Your Baby,” American pediatrician William and his wife Martha Serz write the following: “Walkers, like many similar devices, if used in moderation and only under parental supervision, can be useful for a baby who has not yet learned to walk, but sometimes even standing, but wants to move around the room. This is a good solution for a capricious baby whose mood is something like this: “I don’t want to be held in my arms, but I want to stand next to my mother.” A few minutes in a walker, or a few steps that the baby has walked in them, will not bring trouble, but spending a lot of time in this first “machine” is not only unsafe for children, but also harmful.”
This is probably where all the positive aspects of actively using walkers end.
Summarizing all of the above, we can only say unequivocally that the child does not need a walker. After all, a healthy baby will learn to walk without them. Moreover, without a walker he will do this much faster than with them.
But if it just so happens that the parents’ desire to give their child absolutely everything, including walkers, is stronger than common sense, then if certain recommendations are followed, their use will not cause any harm to the baby, and will even give certain positive emotions. Which, of course, cannot but please loving parents.
Doctor Komarovsky about the benefits and harms of walkers on video
Baby walkers are the subject of many questions and debates. Some argue that walkers are undoubtedly necessary, others consider them to be useless and even harmful. We will look into this issue together.
Walkers are a special device for children who cannot walk yet. With the help of a walker, the child can move independently. The device is a frame with a seat for the baby, mounted on wheels.
Many people believe that walkers are a relatively new invention that greatly simplifies the lives of modern parents. It is worth saying that walkers were invented a long time ago, but at some period of time parents had to abandon this invention.
Back in Soviet times in the 70s, walkers were discontinued. The reason for this was the opinion of doctors that walkers interfere with the normal development of a child’s foot and reduce muscle tone. In Canada, they not only discontinued the production of walkers, but even banned imports, considering this device dangerous to the health of children.
Now walkers are again on sale, and only parents can decide whether their child needs them or not. It is difficult to say definitively whether walkers are harmful. Opinions were divided into two camps.
Baby walkers
Pros of walkers:
Some people refute the benefits of walkers, their facts seem very convincing.
Harm from walkers:
Important: If a child has neurological problems or problems with the formation of the foot, consultation with supervising doctors is necessary. There are children for whom it is undesirable and even contraindicated to walk in walkers.
If you decide to purchase a walker for your baby, take care of the following:
This model is compact. The walkers can be folded and take up very little space.
The next walker model will protect mom's back from pain. Constantly walking hand-in-hand with a child puts strain on an adult's back. It is much more convenient to hold the child in a walker while maintaining a straight back position. Convenient to take similar ones walkers for a walk, the child will explore the world, and the mother will help him.
For those who want a no-frills walker, there is classic model without rattles on the frame.
You can type the word “walker” in the search bar. Another way: go to the “Everything for Children” tab, then “Children’s Products”.
Here you can sort products according to the criteria you need. Filtered search makes selection easier.
Once you have decided on the model, start purchasing. Select the color of the product, click "Buy Now".
The next step is to clarify the address.
Check the details of your order - color, quantity, cost. If everything is correct, click “Place an order”.
Choose any convenient payment method and pay for your order.
Important: The optimal age for using a walker is 7-8 months, when the child learns to sit and stand on his own. Premature use of walkers can lead to improper development of the musculoskeletal system.
Parents of boys are worried whether walkers will affect the development of the reproductive system. Pediatricians recommend avoiding boys staying in walkers for long periods of time, but this rule also applies to girls.
Boys can be placed in walkers from 7-8 months; the child should be there for no more than 40 minutes a day.
According to statistics, girls are more susceptible to hip dysplasia than boys. Before placing your baby in a walker, you should consult with your pediatrician and surgeon.
As for age, girls, like boys, are not recommended to be placed in walkers before 7-8 months.
Most children calmly accept the introduction to walkers. But some are still afraid of these new sensations. The task of parents is to help the child get used to the new device and teach how to use it.
Important: The first steps in a walker are usually spontaneous; a little time will pass and the child will understand that he is securely held in the seat. Then his steps will become more confident.
Popular children's doctor Evgeniy Olegovich Komarovsky expresses his opinion unequivocally - walkers at an early age are harmful.
To summarize, walkers free parents, but still, a child’s long stay in them is extremely undesirable. If you decide to use a walker, adjust it according to the child’s height, consult an orthopedist if necessary, and monitor the time the baby spends in the walker.
Very often, at an appointment with a pediatric orthopedist, parents ask us the question: “Can I use a walker?” And although in medicine in general, and in orthopedics in particular, there are many topics for debate between doctors, but as for the use of walkers, jumpers, etc. devices, orthopedists around the world have long come to a clear answer - walkers do much more harm than good.
Learning and starting to walk is a very important stage for any child, and parents understand this very well - after all, one of the most significant milestones in a child’s development, along with the first word, the first smile, the first “hoot”, are also the first steps, which they rejoice at. which they remember and try to capture in photos and videos. However, in order for a child to begin to walk steadily, a huge transformation must occur in his body from a lying person to an upright person. And this transformation involves a whole range of organs and systems - from the brain and vestibular apparatus, to bones and muscles. Moreover, this entire process should take place naturally, one might say “naturally” and gradually - it is then that all the organs and systems of the little man will be able to properly prepare, develop and “mature” for the transition to the walking stage.
So why can't you use a walker at this stage? After all, it would seem that by placing the baby in this device we help him get on his feet. In fact, everything is exactly the opposite.
Baby walkers cannot be used because:
We have tried to explain in sufficient detail why baby walkers do much more harm than good. In principle, they have only one benefit - the child “frees the hands” of the mother, and they cope with this role very well. Of course, we cannot talk about a complete and unconditional ban on walkers. If the baby stays in them for no more than 15 minutes, no more than two or three times a day, for example, when the mother wants to drink tea or go to the toilet, then they will not cause harm. If you abuse it, there will be problems.